This year marks 40 years since Cyprus was divided into two after a Greek Cypriot coup and a subsequent Turkish invasion of the north in 1974.

After the ceasefire, a heavily restricted UN controlled buffer zone between the north and south of the island was put into operation. It stretches 180km across the whole island, measuring 7.4km at its widest and just 3.3 metres at its narrowest point.

The buffer zone is restricted to the general public and no Greek or Turkish Cypriots are allowed inside. London-based photographer Neil Hall travelled to Cyprus to document the crumbling relics of times gone by - abandoned houses, businesses and even an airport.

The passenger departure area at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersA grounded Cyprus Airways passenger jet is pictured at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersA Cyprus Airways passenger jet is pictured at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersThe abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersAdvertising billboards are seen at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersA cafe sign is seen at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersImmigration counters are seen at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersA sign warning passengers not to tip porters is seen through barbed wires at the abandoned Nicosia International AirportNeil Hall / ReutersA former residential street lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in NicosiaNeil Hall / ReutersA former residential property stands abandoned in the United Nations buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersAn abandoned street is seen in the United Nations buffer zone in NicosiaNeil Hall / ReutersThe kitchen of an abandoned cafe in the United Nations buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersCoca-Cola and Pepsi bottles on a table at an abandoned café in the United Nations buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersPhotographic slides found and collected by soldiers are seen in the buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersThis old pair of 'fashionable hosiery' was found by soldiers in the buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersOld TV sets collected by soldiers are seen in an abandoned commercial areaNeil Hall / ReutersCars sit abandoned in an underground garage in the United Nations buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersAn illuminated flag of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey, overlooks NicosiaNeil Hall / ReutersA sign marks the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone in the village of Pyla, home to a mixed community of both Greek and Turkish CypriotsNeil Hall / ReutersChildren play in a park in the Turkish Cypriot area of Nicosia next to a fence marking the United Nations buffer zoneNeil Hall / ReutersA wall marking the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone is seen from the Greek Cypriot-controlled side of NicosiaNeil Hall / ReutersA Greek Cypriot drinks a beer in the Berlin 2 Wall Café near a military lookout postNeil Hall / Reuters